Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1887-04-23

ness by his taunt, advanced and dcllb-
erately spa: inz. the face
Of the naughty nobleman. The
count sprang backward with the agility
of an athlete, at the same time drawing
his sword. Tie young girl grasped the
nobleman by the sword arm and begged
of him TO forDear Nothing dauntcl, +
the lieutenan. stood like Launcelot,
with poised blade, awaiting the onset
Low born wretch, were it not for |
"Save your breath. count, you'll need
it all in thcsra15rAlns, il the gardens of !
the Luxembourg, at eight, any weapons
you choose Adieu, madam, | am very
sorry to be the cause Of this distressing
scene" With which remarks the young
officer left the scene.
The wintry blast shook the leahess
trees in the gardens Of the Llxembou rg
on the following morning. At few
minutes before eight o'clock two car
riages were seen coming from opposite
directions. They stopped near clump
of bushes The Count de Landon alight-
ed from one and the lieutenant from the
other. Prelimlnaries arranged, swords
were handed to the principles and at
given word the combat began. The
count parried and thrusted with
the dexterity of practised
swordsman. But the recent
graduate of the Military Academy
proved true to his training, as with
skillful movement he disarmed his adver-
sary and placed him hors de combat
& Strike! strike! why don't you
striker shouted the count. The mag
unanimous young officer placed his foot
on the sword of his adversary and re-
Piled "a true soldier of France never
struck an unarmed foe"
The count and his friends entered
their carriage without further ado and
were rapidly driven from the scene.
Shortly after the events just related
the long gathering storm of popular dis
content burst forth in all its fury. The
aristocrats were hunted like wild beasts
and slain wherever found. The old
Count de Arnot feAl victim to the fury
of the mob and fls daughter, the fair
Heloise. escaped to the continent
in company with the Count de
! Landon, whom she subsequently
welded. The vengeance of the
mob was swift and terrible. In a brief
period France was thoroughly purged of
the hated patricians.
In the meantime the hero of many
tields-that brilliant meteor which daz-
lied the world with its supernal lustre,
had laid the foundation of the throne tc
be shortly filled by the hero of Marengo.
Europe lay prostgate at his feet like {
slain lion at the feet of q gladiator ot
old.
Napoleon Bonapartc issued manifesto
granting amnesty to the exiled Bourbons
and after several years of exile most o
them returned%o France. Among thos'
who returned we're the Count de Landor
and his Young bride, who still retained
i her wonderful beauty of face and form
The count, however, was only living Il
his native land short time when he los
the remnant Of his shattered fortune, AM
found himself in utter dcstitution.
One night, while walking the streets Q
Paris, he Inadvertently straycd Into
quiet thorourhfarc. He was walkin
slowly, and when under lamp, strar
ger coming in an opposite direction, mt
him face 10 face. The count stared g
the man. who was mutfiad in a mIlitar
cloak, and at once recognized him rs h
: adversary in the duel in the gardens {
the Luxembourg The recognition W;
mutua' The man advanced, and bow
7 ing said: Monsieur le Comte, the Ia
time we met it WAS in deadly strife, /
us he friends" y
The Count grasped his protfered han
aud answered: ''1ou've certainly prove
: Yourself a noble foe, and the object {
our dispute, H-Ioise de Arnot, my wifi
; will be pleased to hear Of our meeting
. The Count de L,ndon then related
full. the manifold mi>tortunes which b
y fell his house, and finally admitted h
poverty. His old adversary promised
, call al his house on the following da
3, AMI finally left him, after many EXPIRE
sions OF sympathy.
= Ga the following day ar otfcer in &c
= ceous uniform drove hastily 10 the do
NJ Of the count, and aNght:n-. entered.
N hvrrieilv informed the count AMI
"a wife that his master, their friend, q
~ sired to see them Immediately
n They entered the carriage awaitil
AZ them and were hastily driven throu
the labyrinthiaa avenues ADD streets
-. H., ! $40 !r~x- y7-